Comparative metabolomics analysis on invigorating blood circulation for herb pair Gui-Hong by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and pattern recognition approach

Comparative clinical-related outcomes of Chinese patent medicines for cardiac hypertrophy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Background: Persistent pathological cardiac hypertrophy has been associated with increased risk of heart failure and even sudden death. Multiple Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) have gained attention as alternative and complementary remedies due to their high efficiency and few side effects. However, the effects of CPM-related treatment regimens for cardiac hypertrophy had not been systematically evaluated. Aim: The objective of this study was to estimate and compare the effectiveness of different mechanisms of CPMs to improve clinical outcomes, including clinical efficacy and echocardiographic indices, in the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy patents. Methods: A network meta-analysis was conducted on CPM-related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2012 and 2022 involving cardiac hypertrophy patients from four foreign and four Chinese databases. The outcomes concerned efficacy and related indicators, including echocardiographic indices, cardiac biomarkers, and functional exercise capacity, which were evaluated as odds ratios, mean differences, and 95% credible intervals. Network plots, league tables, surface-under-the-cumulative ranking (SUCRA), and funnel plots were created for each outcome, and all analyses were conducted using Stata 16.0 software. Results: A total of 25 RCTs were evaluated; these involved 2395 patients in a network meta-analysis (NMA). The results from existing evidence indicate that blood-activating and stasis-removing Chinese patent medicine (BASR-CPM) + Western medicine (WM) showed a good improvement in clinical efficacy (OR = 8.27; 95%CI = 0.97, 70.73). A combined treatment regimen of CPM with a function of qi-replenishing, blood-activating and stasis-removing, and Western medicine was an effective treatment regimen for echocardiographic indices such as decreasing left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) (SMD = -2.35; 95%CI = -3.09, -1.62) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (SMD = -1.73; 95%CI = -2.92, -0.54). Furthermore, KWYR-CPM + WM and BASR-CPM also showed good improvement for echocardiographic indices of LVEDD (SMD = -1.84; 95%CI = -3.46, -0.22) and left ventricular ejection fraction (SMD = 1.90; 95%CI = -0.46, -3.35), respectively. Conclusion: The study showed that BASR-CPM + WM may be the potentially superior treatment regimen for improving clinical efficacy among cardiac hypertrophy patients. QR&BASR-CPM + WM might be the optimal treatment for decreasing LVESD and LVMI. However, due to potential risks from bias and limited RCTs, further studies with larger samples and high-quality RCTs are needed to support these findings. Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=329589],identifier [CRD42022329589].

Danggui Buxue Decoction: Comparative pharmacokinetic research on six bio-active components in different states by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after oral administration

Danggui Buxue Decoction is a classic formula containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix in a 5:1 ratio and has been extensively used to treat blood deficiency for thousands of years. The aim of the study was to investigate the differences in plasma protein binding, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution of Danggui Buxue Decoction in normal and blood-deficient rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The effects on peripheral blood routine were verified. The compounds exhibited higher plasma protein binding and absorption in the model group compared to the control group, except formononetin. The six ingredients were distributed widely, and the highest concentrations were detected in the heart and uterus. As has been demonstrated in the previous study of the effect of Danggui Buxue Decoction, its potential is to serve as an effective traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating cardiovascular diseases and impacting estrogenic properties, which reveals the potential target organs of Danggui Buxue Decoction the heart and uterus. Our findings suggested that the absorption and distribution of different components in Danggui Buxue Decoction varies depending on the pathological state, molecular weight, lipid solubility, transporter-mediated efflux, and other factors.

Overall metabolic network analysis of urine in hyperlipidemic rats treated with Bidens bipinnata L

Hyperlipidemia has been highlighted as one of the most prominent and global chronic conditions nowadays. Bidens bipinnata L. (BBL), a folk medicine in contemporary China, has efficacy in the treatment of hyperlipidemia (HLP) in China. Although some physiological and pathological function parameters of hyperlipidemia have been investigated, little information about the changes in small metabolites in biofluids has been reported. In the present study, global metabolic profiling with high-performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap/Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap MS) combined with a pattern recognition method was performed to discover the underlying lipid-regulating mechanisms of BBL on hyperlipidemic rats induced by high-fat diet (HFD). The total of four metabolites, up- or down-regulated (p < 0.05 or 0.01), were identified and contributed to the progression of hyperlipidemia. These promising identified biomarkers underpin the metabolic pathway, including glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, the TCA cycle, sphingolipid metabolism and purine metabolism. They are disturbed in hyperlipidemic rats, and are identified using pathway analysis with MetPA. The altered metabolite indices could be regulated closer to normal levels after BBL intervention. The results demonstrated that urinary metabolomics is a powerful tool in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hyperlipidemia to provide information on changes in metabolite pathways.

Metabonomics Study of the Hematopoietic Effect of Medicinal Wine Maoji Jiu on a Blood Deficiency Rat Model by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and a Pattern Recognition Approach

Maoji Jiu (MJ) is a kind of medicinal wine that has been widely used by Chinese people for many years to nourish and promote blood circulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hematopoietic effect of MJ on the metabolism of blood deficient rats and to explore the underlying hematopoietic regulation mechanisms. Blood deficiency model rats were induced by subcutaneous injection of N-acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) and intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX). The plasma metabolic fingerprints of blood deficiency model rats with and without MJ treatment were obtained by using metabonomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS). Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to evaluate the hematopoietic effect of MJ and identify potential biomarkers in the plasma of blood deficiency model rats. The levels of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin (HGB) and the activity of antioxidant capacity showed a recovery trend to the control group after MJ treatment, while the dose of 10 mL/kg showed the best effect. In this study, thirteen potential biomarkers were identified, which were mainly related to seven metabolic pathways, including linoleic acid metabolism, d-glutamine and d-glutamate metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism and arginine biosynthesis. Metabolomics was applied frequently to reflect the physiological and metabolic state of organisms comprehensively, indicating that the rapid plasma metabonomics may be a potentially powerful tool to reveal the efficacy and enriching blood mechanism of MJ.

Simultaneous quantification of anthraquinone glycosides, aglycones, and glucuronic acid metabolites in rat plasma and tissues after oral administration of raw and steamed rhubarb in blood stasis rats by UHPLC-MS/MS

Rhubarb is a widely used herbal medicine. To achieve different effects, rhubarb is usually steamed with rice wine (steamed rhubarb). This steaming treatment increases the blood-activating and stasis-removing effects of rhubarb. A specific and accurate ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was established for simultaneous determination of anthraquinone glycosides, aglycones, and glucuronic acid metabolites in plasma and tissues after administration of raw rhubarb and steamed rhubarb in blood stasis rats. Chromatographic separation was performed on ACQUITY UPLC BEH Shield RP 18 column using the mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile both containing 0.1% formic acid. Satisfactory linearity, precision, accuracy, extraction recovery, and matrix effect have been achieved. From pharmacokinetic study, it showed that glucuronic acid metabolites were found abundantly in plasma as bioactive components. The lower area under concentration-time curve, maximum concentration, and higher apparent volume of distribution (P < 0.01), body clearance (P < 0.01) values in steamed rhubarb showed that most components of steamed rhubarb have lower bioavailability in plasma compared with raw rhubarb. But it found these components were mainly distributed in spleen and liver with large blood flow and perfusion rates. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution studies of anthraquinone components will provide helpful information for clinical application of steamed rhubarb and raw rhubarb.

Exploration of the potential mechanism of the Tao Hong Si Wu Decoction for the treatment of postpartum blood stasis based on network pharmacology and in vivo experimental verification

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tao Hong Si Wu Decoction (THSWD) is a traditional prescription for blood management in traditional Chinese medicine, THSWD consists of Paeoniae Radix Alba (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.), Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC.), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Conioselinum anthriscoides 'Chuanxiong'), Persicae Seman (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) and Carthami Flos (Carthamus tinctorius L.) at a weight ratio of 3: 4: 3: 2: 3: 2. THSWD is a commonly used prescription in the treatment of postpartum blood stasis disease.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the potential mechanism of THSWD for the treatment of postpartum blood stasis using network pharmacology and experimental research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We extracted the active ingredients and targets in THSWD from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and constructed a herbs-ingredients-targets-disease-network, devised a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, performed GO enrichment analysis, and performed Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis to discover potential treatment mechanisms. A postpartum blood stasis model was established in rats, and the results of network pharmacology were verified by in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

The results showed that 69 potential active ingredients and 207 THSWD target genes for the treatment of postpartum blood stasis disease were obtained after ADME filtering analysis. The targets were enriched in multiple gene functions and different signaling pathways. By exploring various different signaling pathways, it was found that mitochondrial regulation of oxidative stress plays a potentially important role in the treatment of postpartum blood stasis with THSWD. Compared to model group, THSWD alleviated mitochondrial damage, decreased levels of oxidative stress in the rat model of postpartum blood stasis and reduced apoptosis in uterine cells.

CONCLUSION

The therapeutic effect of THSWD on postpartum blood stasis is likely related to mitochondrial regulation of oxidative stress, which paves the way for further research investigating its mechanisms.

Comparatively Evaluating the Role of Herb Pairs Containing Angelicae Sinensis Radix in Xin-Sheng-Hua Granule by Withdrawal Analysis

The present study aims to investigate the roles of herb pairs containing Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) in Xin-Sheng-Hua Granule (XSHG) on hemolytic and aplastic anemia (HAA) mice. HAA model mice were induced by acetyl phenylhydrazine and cyclophosphamide; then the samples of XSHG and its decomposed recipes (DY, DC, DT, DH, DJ, and DZ) were orally administrated to these mice. Indicators of peripheral blood routine, organ index, and ATPase activities were tested. Moreover, the main effective components in these samples were also analyzed by UHPLC-TQ-MS/MS. Clear separation between the control and model groups from score plot of principal component analysis (PCA) was easily seen, indicating that HAA model was successfully conducted. Afterwards, relative distance calculation method between dose groups and control group from PCA score plot was adopted to evaluate the integrated effects of hematinic function of different samples. And the orders of hematinic effects were as follows: XHSG > DJ > DT > DZ > DH > DC > DY. Further analysis of these samples by UHPLC-TQ-MS/MS revealed that XSHG underwent complicated changes when herb pairs containing Danggui were excluded from XSHG, respectively. Compared with XSHG, the vast majority of active compounds in sample DY (formula minus herb pair Danggui-Yimucao) decreased significantly, which could partly explain why herb pair Danggui-Yimucao made great contribution to XSHG. These findings showed that withdrawal analysis method is a valuable tool to analyze the impacts of herb pairs containing Danggui on XSHG, which could lay foundation to reveal the compatibility rules of this formula.

Effects of Platycodins Folium on Depression in Mice Based on a UPLC-Q/TOF-MS Serum Assay and Hippocampus Metabolomics

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as depression, is a state characterized by low mood and aversion to activity. Platycodins Folium (PF) is the dried leaf of Platycodon grandiflorum, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. Our previous research suggested that PF was rich in flavonoids, phenols, organic acids, triterpenoid saponins, coumarins and terpenoids. This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effect of PF using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive mice. Several behavior tests (sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST)) and biochemical parameters (IL-6, TNF-α and SOD levels) were used to evaluate the antidepressive effect of PF on LPS-induced depression model. Furthermore, a UPLC-Q/TOF-MS-based metabolomics approach was applied to explore the latent mechanism of PF in attenuating depression. As a result, a total of 21 and 11 metabolites that potentially contribute to MDD progress and PF treatment were identified in serum and hippocampus, respectively. The analysis of metabolic pathways revealed that lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism and inositol phosphate metabolism were disturbed in a model of mice undergoing MDD and PF treatment. These results help us to understand the pathogenesis of depression in depth, and to discover targets for clinical diagnosis and treatment. They also provide the possibility of developing PF into an anti-depressantive agent.

Efficiency of Sophora flavescens-Fructus Ligustri Lucidi Drug Pairs in the Treatment of Liver Fibrosis Based on the Response Surface Method

The pairing of Sophora flavescens and Fructus Ligustri lucidi is taken from Shi Jinmo Medicine. The idea behind this pairing was inspired by the similarity in pharmacological effects of the two herbal drugs, both of which are known to be effective in the treatment and protection against liver fibrosis. To quantitatively study the extent of the interaction between these drugs and the effect of pairing on the treatment of liver fibrosis, an animal model of liver fibrosis mice was established by intraperitoneal injection of low-dose carbon tetrachloride. The drugs were then administered individually, or in predefined compatibility ratio pairs, by gavage, and the effects on indexes of liver fibrosis were observed. The multisynthetic index method was adopted using Matlab software in order to construct a three-dimensional response surface map of the integration effect and conduct interaction analysis of Sophora flavescens and Fructus Ligustri lucidi. The quadratic surface fitting pattern was designed by quadratic regression to determine the optimal range of each drug. The obtained results show that when the compatibility ratio of Sophora flavescens-Fructus Ligustri lucidi drug pairs is less than or equal to 1:1, their therapeutic effect is enhanced by synergy (interaction value ranging between -0.2 and -1). Overall, the synergy of the high-dose drug pairs is stronger than that of the low-dose drug pairs. The optimal dose ranges are 6~12 g and 8~17 g for Sophora flavescens and Fructus Ligustri lucidi, respectively.

Comprehensive Metabolomics Analysis of Xueshuan Xinmaining Tablet in Blood Stasis Model Rats Using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS

Blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is one of the most common Chinese medicine patterns in coronary heart disease. Our previous work proved that Xueshuan Xinmaining Tablet (XXT) could treat blood stasis through regulating the expression of F13a1, Car1 and Tbxa2r. In the current study, the effect and mechanism of XXT on BSS was comprehensively and holistically investigated based on a metabolomics approach. Urine and plasma samples of 10 BBS rats treated with XXT (XT), 9 BSS model rats (BM) and 11 normal control (NC) rats were collected and then determined by UPLC-Q/TOP-MS. Multivariate analyses were applied to distinguish differentiate urinary and plasma metabolite patterns between three groups. Results showed that a clear separation of three groups was achieved. XT group was located between BM group and NC group, and showing a tendency of recovering to NC group, which was consistent with the results of hemorheological studies. Some significantly changed metabolites like cortexolone, 3α,21-dihydroxy-5β-pregnane-11,20-dione and 19S-hete and leukotriene A4, chiefly involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism and lipid metabolism, were found and identified to explain the mechanism. These potential markers and their corresponding pathways will help explain the mechanism of BSS and XXT treatment. This work also proves that metabolomics is effective in traditional Chinese medicinal research.

Effects of Tao-Hong-Si-Wu decoction on acute blood stasis in rats based on a LC-Q/TOF-MS metabolomics and network approach

A novel approach using metabolomics coupled with a metabolic network was used to investigate the effects of Tao-Hong-Si-Wu decoction (THSWD) on the rat model of acute blood stasis syndrome. Acute blood stasis syndrome was induced by placing the rats in ice-cold water following two injections with epinephrine. The hemorheological indicators [whole blood viscosity (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV)] and the blood coagulation indicators [thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and fibrinogen (FIB)] were detected. The nonparametric univariate method and multivariate statistical analysis were performed for determining the potential biomarkers. A correlation map was structured between biochemical indicators and hub metabolites to explain the effects mechanism of THSWD. After the administration of THSWD, the levels of WBV, PV, TT, APTT and FIB returned to levels observed in the control group. According to metabolomics coupled with metabolic network analysis, the intervention of THSWD in rats with acute blood stasis syndrome induced substantial and characteristic changes in their metabolic profiles. Fifteen metabolites were screened, which mainly involved 10 pathways and five hub metabolites, namely, l-glutamate, l-phenylalanine, N-acylsphingosine, arachidonic acid and phosphatidate. The biochemical indicators and hub metabolites could be adjusted to close to normal levels by THSWD. Therefore, combining metabolomics and metabolic network helped to evaluate the effects of THSWD on acute blood stasis.

Pharmacokinetic Comparison of Seven Major Bio-Active Components in Normal and Blood Stasis Rats after Oral Administration of Herb Pair Danggui-Honghua by UPLC-TQ/MS

The compatibility between Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Honghua (Carthami Flos) is a known herb pair, which could activate blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis effects. In this paper, we quantified seven main bio-active components (hydroxysafflor yellow A, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, ferulic acid, 3-n-butylphthalide, and ligustilide) in plasma samples in vivo by UPLC-TQ/MS method and investigatedwhether the pharmacokinetic (PK) behaviors of the seven components could be altered in blood stasis rats after oral administration of the Gui-Hong extracts. It was found that the C_max and AUC_0-t of these components in blood stasis rats had increasing tendency compared with normal rats. Most components in model and normal rats had significant difference in some pharmacokinetic parameters, which indicated that the metabolism enzymes and transporters involved in the metabolism and disposition of these bio-active componentsmay bealtered in blood stasis rats. This study was the first report about the pharmacokinetic investigation between normal and blood stasis rats after oral administrationof Gui-Hong extracts, and these results are important and valuable for better clinical applications of Gui-Hong herb pair and relatedTCM formulae.

Comparative Analysis of Compatibility Effects on Invigorating Blood Circulation for Cyperi Rhizoma Series of Herb Pairs Using Untargeted Metabolomics

The mutual-assistance compatibility of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu, XF) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, DG), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong, CX), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao, BS), or Corydalis Rhizoma (Yanhusuo, YH), found in a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) named Xiang-Fu-Si-Wu Decoction (XFSWD), can produce synergistic and promoting blood effects. Nowadays, XFSWD has been proved to be effective in activating blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis. However, the role of the herb pairs synergistic effects in the formula were poorly understood. In order to quantitatively assess the compatibility effects of herb pairs, mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics studies were performed. The plasma and urine metabolic profiles of acute blood stasis rats induced by adrenaline hydrochloride and ice water and administered with Cyperi Rhizoma-Angelicae Sinensis Radix (XD), Cyperi Rhizoma-Chuanxiong Rhizoma (XC), Cyperi Rhizoma-Paeoniae Radix Alba (XB), Cyperi Rhizoma-Corydalis Rhizoma (XY) were compared. Relative peak area of identified metabolites was calculated and principal component analysis (PCA) score plot from the potential markers was used to visualize the overall differences. Then, the metabolites results were used with biochemistry indicators and genes expression values as parameters to quantitatively evaluate the compatibility effects of XF series of herb pairs by PCA and correlation analysis. The collective results indicated that the four XF herb pairs regulated glycerophospholipid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis and arachidonic acid metabolism pathway. XD was more prominent in regulating the blood stasis during the four XF herb pairs. This study demonstrated that metabolomics was a useful tool to efficacy evaluation and compatibility effects of TCM elucidation.

The role of Jagged1/Notch pathway-mediated angiogenesis of hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro, and the effects of the spleen-invigorating and blood stasis-removing recipe

The objective of this study was to observe the effect of Jagged1/Notch pathway-mediated angiogenesis on the in vitro proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and the effect and possible mechanism of the spleen-invigorating and blood stasis-removing recipe. Spleen-invigorating and blood stasis-removing recipe serum from SPF grade nude mice was prepared, and the fingerprint of the drugs of the spleen-invigorating and blood stasis-removing recipe and drug serum were identified by HPLC. SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells were divided into the normal control group, DAPT inhibitor control group, and drug serum group according to the different treatments. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method was used to determine cell proliferation ability, and angiogenesis was observed under an inverted microscope. The expression of Jagged1, Notch1, and VEGF was measured by qPCR and western blot analysis. The interaction of Jagged1 and Notch1 was detected by Co-IP. The CCK-8 assay indicated that cell proliferation was inhibited in response to drug treatment (P<0.01). The expression of Jagged1, Notch1, and VEGF in the drug serum group was significantly lower than in the normal control group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the new vascular area of the DAPT inhibitor control group and drug serum group was smaller, and the blood vessels of the DAPT inhibitor control group and drug serum group were more sparse. The levels of Jagged1, Notch1, VEGF protein and the interaction between Jagged1 and Notch1 in the DAPT inhibitor control group and drug serum group were significantly lower than in the control serum group (P<0.01). In conclusion, the spleen-invigorating and blood stasis-removing recipe can inhibit the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and tumor angiogenesis in vitro. The function is related to the reduced expression of Jagged1, reduced interaction between Jagged1 and Notch1, and the reduced expression and activity of VEGF.

Integrative hepatoprotective efficacy comparison of raw and vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri using nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics

Radix Bupleuri (RB), with a Chinese name Chaihu, is one of the most popular Traditional Chinese herbal drug. It can be baked with vinegar to afford vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri (VBRB), which is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for liver diseases treatment. In the present study, nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomic approach was used to compare the liver protective effect of RB and two types of VBRBs, which were prepared by two kinds of vinegar. The contents of 14 metabolites in the liver of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) treated mice were significantly altered in comparison with control group, and VBRB prepared by Shanxi vinegar showed best effect as revealed by the amount and regulatory degree of the perturbed metabolites. The metabolism pathways analysis showed that the liver protective effect was related with the energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, ketone body metabolism, glutathione metabolism, amino acids metabolism and nucleotide synthesis. The results presented here showed that metabolomic approach made it possible to disclose the subtle biological difference between two types of VBRB, which highlight the potential of metabolomic approach to quantitatively compare the pharmacological effect of the herbal drugs.

Herb pair Danggui-Honghua: mechanisms underlying blood stasis syndrome by system pharmacology approach

Herb pair Danggui-Honghua has been frequently used for treatment of blood stasis syndrome (BSS) in China, one of the most common clinical pathological syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, its therapeutic mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, a feasible system pharmacology model based on chemical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacological data was developed via network construction approach to clarify the mechanisms of this herb pair. Thirty-one active ingredients of Danggui-Honghua possessing favorable pharmacokinetic profiles and biological activities were selected, interacting with 42 BSS-related targets to provide potential synergistic therapeutic actions. Systematic analysis of the constructed networks revealed that these targets such as HMOX1, NOS2, NOS3, HIF1A and PTGS2 were mainly involved in TNF signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway and neurotrophin signaling pathway. The contribution index of every active ingredient also indicated six compounds, including hydroxysafflor yellow A, safflor yellow A, safflor yellow B, Z-ligustilide, ferulic acid, and Z-butylidenephthalide, as the principal components of this herb pair. These results successfully explained the polypharmcological mechanisms underlying the efficiency of Danggui-Honghua for BSS treatment, and also probed into the potential novel therapeutic strategies for BSS in TCM.

Effects of ferulic acid on antioxidant activity in Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, and their combination

The present study aimed at exploring different roles of the same compound in different environment, using preparative HPLC, and the significance to investigating bio-active constituents in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on the basis of holism. In this study, the depletion of target component ferulic acid (FA) by using preparative HPLC followed by antioxidant activity testing was applied to investigate the roles of FA in Angelicae Sinensis Radix (DG), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CX) and their combination (GX). The antioxidant activity was performed by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity testing. FA was successfully and exclusively depleted from DG, CX, and GX, respectively. By comparing the effects of the samples, it was found that FA was one of the main antioxidant constituents in DG, CX and GX, and the roles of FA were DG > CX > GX. Furthermore, the effects of FA varied at different doses in these herbs. This study provided a reliable and effective approach to clarifying the contribution of same compound in different TCMs to their bio-activities. The role of a constituent in different TCMs might be different, and a component with the same content might have different effects in different chemical environments. Furthermore, this study also suggested the potential utilization of preparative HPLC in the characterization of the roles of multi-ingredients in TCM.